The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Title: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show
Host: Dan Patrick, iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Release Date: June 4, 2025

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1. Introduction and Guest Overview

In this episode of The Dan Patrick Show, host Dan Patrick engages in insightful discussions with notable sports analysts, primarily focusing on the NBA and its current dynamics. The episode features in-depth conversations with Vincent Goodwill Jr. III, a senior NBA writer from Yahoo Sports, and Robert Ori, a Lakers analyst from Spectrum Sportsnet. Their expertise provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of recent developments within the NBA, particularly concerning the New York Knicks and their coaching strategies.

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2. Analyzing the Knicks' Decision to Fire Tom Thibodeau

Dan Patrick opens the discussion by addressing the controversial decision of the New York Knicks to terminate head coach Tom Thibodeau despite the team's notable performance in the NBA Finals.

Key Points:

• Overachievement vs. Expectations: Despite exceeding expectations by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and defeating the defending champions in a decisive six-game series, the Knicks decided to part ways with Thibodeau.

• Team Composition and Expectations: Robert Ori emphasizes the Knicks' "second apron" team status, highlighting the challenges posed by a top-heavy roster that lacks depth. He contrasts this with teams like the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, where significant financial investments reflect championship expectations.

• Defensive Issues: Ori points out that the Knicks had notable defensive shortcomings, particularly between center Karl-Anthony Towns and point guard Jalen Brunson, which ultimately undermined the team's championship aspirations.

Notable Quote:

"When you make a move, you fire a coach or hire a coach, you should get in front of the media... You got to get answers. What was it that we didn't get and what are you bringing in now?"
— Dan Patrick [05:55]

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3. Potential Coaching Replacements and Organizational Dynamics

The conversation delves into potential replacements for Thibodeau and the internal dynamics of the Knicks' management.

Key Points:

• Hiring Challenges: Ori expresses skepticism about finding a coach who can seamlessly fill Thibodeau's shoes, comparing potential candidates like Michael Malone and Jeff Van Gundy, and questioning whether the Knicks' management truly knows who they are hiring.

• Danny Hurley's Suitability: The discussion shifts to Danny Hurley as a possible candidate, with Ori questioning Hurley's temperament and ability to handle the intense scrutiny from New York media.

• Organizational Decision-Making: Ori suggests that the decision to fire Thibodeau was likely made well in advance by higher management, possibly involving figures like Leon Rose, rather than being solely the coach's responsibility.

Notable Quote:

"If you make the Eastern Conference finals in a year where nobody expected you to get out of the second round... but you still fire the coach, that means nothing was going to enable you to keep your job."
— Robert Ori [03:09]

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4. Knicks' Player Performance and Team Chemistry

The episode examines the performance of key Knicks players and how their on-court chemistry affected the team's success.

Key Points:

• Carl-Anthony Towns' Defense: Towns' defensive abilities were criticized, with Ori noting that his lack of defensive prowess was a significant hurdle. The discussion includes his limited assists and the inefficacy of his partnership with Brunson.

• Jalen Brunson's Impact: Brunson's role is scrutinized, particularly his defensive contributions, or lack thereof. Ori argues that Brunson's defensive shortcomings at the point of attack negatively impacted the team's overall performance.

Notable Quote:

"We saw Carl Towns with Rudy Gobert in Minnesota. They surrounded him with defensive players... because he's not going to change."
— Robert Ori [10:16]

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5. Broader NBA Finals Analysis

Beyond the Knicks, the conversation touches upon broader implications for the NBA Finals and the strategies that could lead teams to victory.

Key Points:

• Defense vs. Offense: The ongoing debate about whether defense still plays a crucial role in winning championships is addressed, with Ori affirming its importance despite the rising emphasis on offensive strategies.

• Player Development and Team Strategy: The importance of developing bench players and maintaining team chemistry is highlighted as essential factors for sustained success in the Finals.

Notable Quote:

"Defense still wins championships in the NBA... these teams are also good defensively and they can lock you down."
— Ryan Seacrest [51:56]

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6. Historical Perspectives: Comparing Past and Present NBA

The episode incorporates historical comparisons to draw parallels between past NBA strategies and current trends.

Key Points:

• Steve Nash's Shooting: Discussions on how Steve Nash's shooting efficiency would translate into today's NBA, hypothesizing that increased scoring opportunities might have secured him championship rings.

• Charles Barkley's Versatility: The adaptability of Charles Barkley in today's game is explored, suggesting that his athleticism and versatility would make him a formidable player in the current NBA landscape.

Notable Quote:

"If Steve Nash realized that he had the green light to shoot more... he might have a championship ring or two in his jewelry case."
— Robert Ori [17:46]

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7. NHL Insights: Don Cherry and Barry Melrose in the Hockey Hall of Fame

Shifting focus to the NHL, Dan Patrick and Vincent Goodwill Jr. discuss the prospects of broadcasting legends Don Cherry and Barry Melrose being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Key Points:

• Recognition of Broadcasters: The conversation centers on the lack of recognition for broadcasters and analysts in the Hall of Fame criteria, advocating for an expanded definition to include influential sports media personalities.

• Barry Melrose's Health and Legacy: Melrose's battle with Parkinson's Disease is acknowledged, emphasizing his contributions to hockey broadcasting and coaching, and the impact of his potential induction on the hockey community.

Notable Quote:

"They gave their life to the game and to the sport. And it seems like an easy sentence to get people like that into the Hall of Fame."
— Vincent Goodwill Jr. III [28:47]

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8. Personal Anecdotes and Experiences

The episode is enriched with personal stories from the guests, providing a more intimate glimpse into their lives and careers.

Key Points:

• Dan Patrick's Basketball Story: Dan shares a humorous and competitive basketball encounter with Stuart Scott, highlighting the intensity and camaraderie among sports media personalities.

• Guest Memories: Vincent Goodwill Jr. III recounts his experiences with ESPN, including memorable moments and the evolution of his career alongside Dan Patrick.

Notable Quote:

"We cleared the court, and then you and Stuart proceeded to play one on one. It was the most violent one-on-one situation I've ever seen on a basketball court."
— Dan Patrick [35:15]

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9. Concluding Thoughts and Future Projections

As the episode wraps up, Dan Patrick and his guests reflect on the current state of professional sports and speculate on future developments.

Key Points:

• Connor McDavid's Legacy: Discussions revolve around McDavid's potential to be regarded as the greatest talent in hockey, contingent upon his ability to secure team championships.

• Adaptation of Legendary Players: The adaptability of legendary NBA players like Kobe Bryant in today's game is debated, considering changes in player dynamics and team structures.

Notable Quote:

"You can't manufacture [desperation]."
— Robert Ori [31:28]

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10. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with acknowledgments and expressions of camaraderie among the hosts and guests, reinforcing the strong relationships within the sports media community.

Notable Quote:

"Great to talk to you again, as always, Robert."
— Dan Patrick [54:25]

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Final Note: This episode of The Dan Patrick Show offers a blend of analytical insights, historical comparisons, and personal anecdotes, making it a compelling listen for sports enthusiasts interested in the intricacies of basketball coaching decisions, player dynamics, and the evolving landscape of professional sports.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Vincent Goodwill]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Vincent Goodwill]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Vincent Goodwill]

No purchase necessary. VGW Group void. We're prohibited by law. 21 plus terms and conditions apply. NBC Nightly News Legacy isn't handed down.

[Dan Patrick]

We're NBC News.

[Robert Ori]

I'm Tom Brokaw.

[Dan Patrick]

We hope to see you back here. I'm Lester Holt.

[Vincent Goodwill]

It's carried forward.

[Robert Ori]

Tom Yamats is there for us.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Firefighters are still working around the clock. As the world changes, we look for what endures. We are coming on the air with breaking news. Right now we look for a constant and from one era to the next. Trust is the anchor for NBC Nightly News. I'm Tom Yamas. A new chapter begins NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas evenings on NBC.

[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

We bring in Vincenzo Goodwill Jr. III, Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer, host of the Good Word podcast and Yahoo Sports ball don't lie, SiriusXM NBA host as well. He'll be covering the NBA Finals. All right, here's your question. Tom Thibodeau was fired because.

[Robert Ori]

The New York Knicks wanted to fire him. I think we try to make things a lot more complicated than they are. If you make the Eastern Conference finals in a year where nobody expected you to get out of the second round regardless of the circumstances and you take out the defending champions in a decisive six game series and that's not enough for you to keep your job, that meant that nothing was going to enable you to keep your job. You can talk about the Knicks roster and how top heavy they are. They are second apron team and I think that is something Dan that we don't talk about as much. When you look at the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks, some of those teams that are in those second aprons, those are very punitive investment heavy, you know, parts of the cba the expectations are championship. And even if the roster doesn't look like a championship, the investment of the money says we expect you to deliver a championship. Now maybe Tom Thibodeau took this team as far as it can go and you need a more innovative offensive mind. You know, there was a lot of chemistry issues, it looked like between Carl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. But I ask you Dan, when was the last time you've seen an NBA champion that had defensive issues at the point of attack with his point guard and at the rim with the center and you won a championship. I don't know if God himself could have worked the magic that Tom Thibodeau was asked to work in these playoffs.

[Dan Patrick]

So you're saying then they overachieved with Tom Thibodeau not underachieved in these playoffs?

[Robert Ori]

Yes, absolutely. I don't look at or I'll say this to the fans. Did you know that Landry Shammit and Delon Wright were actually in the NBA when Tom Thibodeau threw them out there? Now you can say Tiff didn't develop his bench and everything else and depth in today's game wins when you look at the Oklahoma City Thunder. You look at the Indiana patients, the two teams playing in the NBA Finals. You are absolutely correct. But when you build a team that says Mikhail Bridges, we are going to pay five first round picks for you. And then we bring in OG and Obi before that. And then on the evil training camp, we traded for Carl Anthony Towns. You don't have the space to develop a bench. And I know Tiff should have developed the bench better, but I can't think of a coach being fired because of supplementary players. Now if you tell me that Jalen Brunson or Carl Towns and Mikhail Bridges went into a meeting individually with Jim Dolan and said, we know what you're thinking. Maybe this isn't the guy to help us move forward. Okay, fine. Because this is a totally different team than the team Tips took over all those years ago. It's a much more talented, offensively based team. And maybe that's the reason. But either way, guess what, Dan? We won't find out. Because punks of Tony Field will never come out of his shadow. And I'm talking about Leon Rose. We never see that. Man, I will be bald headed before we ever see Leon Rose in public again. And let me tell y' all, I got a good hairline still.

[Dan Patrick]

See, I think that if you make a move, you fire a coach or hire a coach, you should get in front of the media. You got the media capital of the world, New York City. You made the move. If I'm a fan, I would like to at least have answers. What was it that we didn't get and what are you bringing in now? He might show up. If they bring in Michael Malone, take a victory lap, and then maybe they don't ask questions about Tom Thibodeau. But you got to get in front of the media here, right?

[Robert Ori]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I'm surprised that Nick fans, well, for one, Nick fans don't like the media. Nobody likes the big bad media. So when the media says, hey, there's a need for public accountability, you know, you can look at that in all different spheres of our world today. Nobody likes the media pointing out that accountability is necessary. But let me say to this point, even if you go hire a Michael Malone, what is the difference between Michael Malone and Tom Thibodeau? Wasn't Michael Malone fired in large part because of his inability to work with the front office to develop young players? Isn't that one of the complaints about Tom Thibodeau? Don't they come from the same New York sort of tree, the, the. The tree of NBA coaches. I feel like they're kind of similar.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you think they know who they're hiring?

[Robert Ori]

No, I don't think they know who they're hiring. I think, and I don't necessarily know if you have to know who you're hiring. I don't think this is the case of when the Pistons fired rick Carlisle in 2003. They knew they had Larry Brown in their back pocket and they want to win the championship that next season to validate it. I don't think this is that. I think they are walking in this with a relatively open mind. You see the list of guys, even some coaches who are still in the contract, they owe Tom Thibod $30 million. I will say this, and I'm gonna go back to firing of tips. When you fire a coach with $30 million left on this deal and you're willing to eat that, it's not just the owner because I've heard three hours before, hey, it's time. Thibodeau say, and someone told me, two people told me inside that building, close to that building, they said, not unless Nolan wants to. So I don't just think it was Jim Dolan. I don't think it was just the players in those closed door meetings. I think they had long made this decision and I don't think they had necessarily a list of who they had in front of them, a closed down list. I think, I don't think it's going to be Jay Ryden. I feel it's going to be Jeff Van Gundy or anything like that. I think it's the New York Knicks being the New York Knicks.

[Dan Patrick]

What about Danny Hurley?

[Robert Ori]

Have you seen Danny Hurley on the sideline?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I know, I know. My job is just to ask the question. I didn't want to ask a question and give an answer.

[Robert Ori]

So you didn't want to. You didn't want to leave the witness?

[Dan Patrick]

No, no. It's something that's unique in this business. Doesn't happen very often where the host just asks the question, doesn't ask, answer and then ask. So what about Danny Hurley?

[Robert Ori]

I don't think Danny Hurley has the sort of temperament for an 82 game season. The scrutiny of the New York media and then the NBA playoffs. You are at the point now where reaching the conference finals is the floor for this. Like Dan, there was a girl I once dated and when we first met, she said, the bar is the floor. You don't have to do much. I like the case realm for These New York Knicks, the bar is a lot higher now for them and how they have to move. So you have to be careful about what type of coach you bring in because there's the scrutiny, because it's the Dolan factor, because it's worldwide wins, maybe Rick Brunson, you know, Leon Rose. It's all these different factions inside the building. And again, I ask you, what championship coach could coach? Carl Tyler defending the rim and Jaylen Brunson being an outright sort of negative factor on defense at the point of attack. I don't. And Jaylen Brunson At 6ft zero, Commander so much of a team's offense. If you're talking about Knicks players not sure what their role is, he has so much of a disproportionate value on the offense being run. I don't think we talk about that. He's like James Harden. He's like Luka Doncic. And guys around that have a hard time playing. So I don't even look offensively. You have the philosophy or the scheme to build a championship team.

[Dan Patrick]

Talking to Vincent Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer, I did laugh at the end of the year. You know, after they get eliminated, people now start pointing out that Carl Anthony Towns can't play defense. And I'm thinking, did. Did anybody watch him prior to getting to New York? He doesn't play defense. I don't know if he tries. Like, that'd be even sadder if he was. If he was actually trying to play defense. I'd rather just go with. I'll use my energy on the offensive end.

[Robert Ori]

Well, you guys play princess. 17 days coming in. Prince is one of Prince's favorite musicians. Well, Sheila E. With the bongos. That's what Carl Anthony Towns does when he's playing. Beefing. He just whacked you upside the head and then said, I don't know why I did that. And you're right. We saw Carl Towns with Rudy Gobert in Minnesota. They surrounded him with defensive players. Anthony Edwards is a dog on defense. J. McDaniels is a dog on defense. You have to surround him with players at all different levels that sort of mitigate what he does, because he's not going to change. He's 10 years in. He's a wildly inefficient offensive player, a wildly talented offensive player. But also, Jaylen Brunson had a grand total dam of 5 assists to Carl Anthony Towns in the Eastern Conference finals. Something is not working with the mix with those two. Carl played his best when Brunson Was on the bench. And then when Brunson's on the bench, proud gets him five.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, NBA Finals. Tell me how. Yeah, that's happening. Rumor has it. Do you think the Knicks make the announcement of the next head coach during the NBA Finals? I don't know. David Stern was always had a problem don't take away from the Finals. But I don't know if that, you know, this commissioner cares or the Knicks care, but will they hire their head coach by the end of the NBA Finals?

[Robert Ori]

I'm not sure if you know, Emperor Stern is much more of an authoritarian figure than Adam Silver, who's a little bit more on a diplomatic side, right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Robert Ori]

If you're assuming that the NBA Finals go longer than five games, maybe. But the NBA Finals stretch out for like two weeks. I had to pack like £75 worth of worth of plums and stuff to carry here. But to answer your question, Dan, seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if the Knicks. I don't think the Knicks care. You don't think. I don't think James Dolan cares. And like we said, Leon Rose doesn't have to be accountable to any damn body publicly or maybe even privately when these things come about. So I think if they find their guy, if their guy is out there and he's not coaching in this series and I don't think that is, then you go ahead and you make the announcement, you get it out the way and whatever Adam Silver says, they. They don't care what the league the. Nick, I'm g tell you this. The Knicks don't get a damn what the league office said. The league office doesn't even have as much of a background as they should against the New Year Sprint shot. And I'll leave it at that.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, how do the Pacers win the series, not make it a series? Win the series.

[Robert Ori]

Lockshake. You'll just Alexander up like that movie with Damon Wayans. Like that. No, I think offense is the key here. The only thing we say when you get to the NBA finalist, it's about defense and stopping the other team. You're not going to stop the Oklahoma City Thug. You're not going to stop Shay Gildis Alexander from being filed or at least baiting the refs into believing he's fine. You have to press the pace Tyres Halber is by far the most important player in this series. The one mistake that Anthony Evers made or the one development in his game is that you got to see when he gave up the ball, you knew exactly where he was because he was not moving around and that enabled Oklahoma City's defense to keep an eye arms on him. Highres Halberton has a Steve Nash kind of quality where he can be at different points of the floor, where you have to account for him for different players. If he can get this Oklahoma City defense mixed up and twisted up, which we actually have not seen, then maybe you have a better chance. Remember the different nuggets of Nicole Jokic and a took this team seven games. They get blown out in the game seven. But the games that they won, they shot the ball extremely well and they played flawless basketball. Down the stretch we've seen the Indiana Pacers have comeback victories against Cleveland and against the New York Knicks where they defied the odds and came back and played flawless basketball in the last two minutes after hanging around from being down 20 or being down 10, whatever the case may be. And Rick Carlo is a wizard of a coach. So while it doesn't seem likely that is the path tyres Halton has to be a monster in this series. The patients have to shoot what they shot against the knicks well over 39% which is a Herculean number. They have to shoot well into the 40s and you have to win the crunch time minutes. And even then I don't know for sure if they win the series.

[Dan Patrick]

Let me go back to the Knicks for this question. What do you think about Rick Pitino coaching the Knicks?

[Robert Ori]

You are jumping back to the weight back machine. I mean, is it, is he bringing Billy Donovan back with him? Is he bringing, you know, Patrick ewing and those 89 knicks where they shot you up half court? That's a great question. I don't know if Jeff Van Gundy is being answered. I don't know if Rick Patino, who is what he got to be what, 76, 77 years old if he has the stamina to, to do that? In the words of Rick Patino in the press conference maybe 25 years ago, Patrick Ewing ain't walking through that door. Charles Oakley ain't walking through that door. We know Charles Oakley really ain't walking through that door.

[Dan Patrick]

He's not allowed to walk through the door. He literally can't walk through that door. They won't let him walk through that door. I was watching that 30 for 30 on the Pacers and the Knicks with Reggie Miller and John Starks and you saw some of those scores. Like the pacers would get 78 points. It was almost like first team to 90 points would win, win those games. But it was, it Was exciting and intense. It wasn't necessarily great basketball, but it was like so physical. And then, I don't know, did the commissioner have this light go off and say aesthetically this isn't a, this isn't good basketball? Because Cleveland, I remember Mike Fratello and Pat Riley with the Knicks, they love that physicality with that. But I don't know, was there an edict that said we have to make this more open and, and let these great athletes be great athletes again?

[Robert Ori]

Well, remember, just specifically go back to 1995 where Reggie does the eight points and nine and a half seconds and the scores were where they were the next year the NBA moved the three point line up from 23.9 to maybe 22.6 for the next two seasons. And then they moved the line back again to increase scoring. So that was one of those things. And then the Detroit Pistons, the 48 minutes of hell team came and was holding teams under 70 points. And then the next year you got to see the handshaking removed the national two MVPs, the seven seconds or less Phoenix Suns. And that's where you start to see sort of the evolution of the game. Michael Jordan finds a way to cure all ills. Michael Jordan is the Patriot League. It don't matter what's going on. That's why 30 points in looks a lot different than 30 points now. So don't give me the numbers from there and say such and such is better right now.

[Dan Patrick]

I say, how would Steve Nash be.

[Robert Ori]

In today's game if Steve Nash realized that he had the green light to shoot more? And I think as opposed to being an 18 and 13 guy or a 16 and 12 guy, if he turned into like a 23, 22 and 11 guy, Steve Nash might have a championship ring or two in, in his jewelry case. I think he would be. I think the point guards of previous eras. When you talk about the Steve Nash is the Jason kids of course, know the Isaiahs and Magic. Those guys will be so much better in today's game. Not because of shooting, but because the rim isn't clogged. They're getting to the lane and getting layups all day because you have to guard from 30ft out and you don't have one big man at the rim, let alone three.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I remember coaches would tell me that they had to yell at Steve Nash to shoot. Imagine you have to tell somebody to shoot because he didn't shoot enough. And they said, you know, now you're hurting us that you're not shooting enough. And he was a, a 90, 50, 40 guy. I think before we even thought what a 90, 50, 40 guy was.

[Robert Ori]

Yeah, it was. He was amazingly efficient. And sometimes when you take more volume of shots, the efficiency goes down. Some people are so married to, you know, whatever the numbers are that they, you know, they don't worry about winning the game, they worry about winning the statistic battle. I don't think Steve Nash was like, I think speaking glass was a hard nose competitor. And when you have Shawn Marion and Mario Stom and those guys who needed to be fed the ball, you get more into a passive point of view. But it makes a better offense if you wind up getting it up the court and you're trying to get layups and you're driving the score as opposed to driving the pass because sooner or later the defense catches up to that and they play you for the pass as opposed to playing for a threat.

[Dan Patrick]

What would Barkley be like today?

[Robert Ori]

Illegal because who's guarding him? Dan? Who is guarding a six foot six, lightning quick, athletic three, four. Remember, Charles played a lot of three his latter days in Philly where he played with Rick Mahorn and Mike Jaminsky and He almost won MVP in 1990 playing a small forward. If you gave Charles Barkley and open the floor, you said, Charles Barkley, the three point shot is a shot that we have to take. Then you, if you play up on him, he drives to the basket. If he post up the floor spread, you can't double him. If you tell him, Charles, we need 50 from you tonight, that's what you got. The only hope is that, hey, Charles, you got to play defense. Can you get into a stand? Can you rotate? That's the only question.

[Dan Patrick]

As Charles has told me many times, as long as Larry Bird's in the league, I won't be the worst defensive guy.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Wow.

[Robert Ori]

Hey, look, there's a play near and dear to a lot of Detroit's hearts that say Larry Bird was a pretty damn good defensive player. So I'll take a little umbrage on that.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, sometimes, you know, you look at LeBron and I could say five greatest plays of his career. One is going to be the chase down block on Igu Dolla. Yeah, I can talk about Michael Jordan's five greatest plays. The steal against Carl Malone that set up the game winning shot that won, you know, the game in Utah which we thought was his game. And then Larry Bird with the steel against the Pistons. So great players making great plays, but making great plays at both ends of the floor.

[Robert Ori]

Well, remember that Utah Jazz game six with Chicago was on a Sunday. And I know it wasn't the reference, but the mailman don't deliver on Sunday.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, okay.

[Robert Ori]

All right.

[Dan Patrick]

All right.

[Robert Ori]

You like that, didn't you?

[Dan Patrick]

No, no. That's something that Fritzi would have said. He would have said that. And I would have said, todd, you're better than that.

[Robert Ori]

Well, I am. I am a Detroiter. And Karl Malone knocked Isaiah Thomas his head wide open with 40 something stitches because Zeke had scorched John Stockton in the aftermath of the dream team stuff. So I don't really have a whole lot of love for Karl Malone. I say it like that.

[Dan Patrick]

Good to talk to you again. Thank you, Vincent.

[Robert Ori]

Always, Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

That's Vincent. Goodwill.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app, search FSR to listen live.

[Dan Patrick]

Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific.

[Vincent Goodwill]

On Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app.

[Dan Patrick]

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich?

[Vincent Goodwill]

We talk about everything.

[Dan Patrick]

Life, sports, relationships, what going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends.

[Vincent Goodwill]

For the last 20 years and still.

[Dan Patrick]

Work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive.

[Dan Patrick]

Show on planet earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich Life live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Kovino and Rich.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us. Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro plus, we'll help you pay off your old Phone up to 800 bucks and.

[Dan Patrick]

You still get to keep it.

[Ryan Seacrest]

There's always a trade in not right now.

[Vincent Goodwill]

AT T Mobile. I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma. That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender. I'm good. Seriously?

[Robert Ori]

Hmm.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car. It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile, get a new.

[Dan Patrick]

Iphone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence on us. No trade in needed.

[Vincent Goodwill]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Vincent Goodwill]

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[Dan Patrick]

The name of this product is the Active Cash Credit Card from Wells Fargo. That's a lot of name, but it's also a lot of card. It earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, whether it's buying tickets to the game with your mom or grabbing coffee with your dog. Purchases big and small earn unlimited 2% cash rewards. No limits, no categories to track, just straightforward rewards that keep adding up. So you might stumble a bit while saying it, but paying with it will make you stumble upon so much more. Shopping, dining, cooking, gardening. You get the idea. Let's say it together. The Active Cash Credit Card from Wells Fargo earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. You know what? It does have a ring to it. No, seriously, try saying it out loud. The Active Cash Credit Card from Wells Fargo. Oh, that sounds nice. Learn more@wells fargo.com forward/activecash terms apply.

[Vincent Goodwill]

The NBC Nightly News legacy isn't handed.

[Dan Patrick]

Down or NBC News.

[Robert Ori]

I'm Tom Brokaw.

[Dan Patrick]

We hope to see you back here.

[Vincent Goodwill]

I'm Lester Holt it's carried forward. Tom Yamas is there for firefighters are still working around the clock. As the world changes, we look for what endures. We are coming on the air with breaking news right now. We look for a constant and from one era to the next. Trust is the anchor for NBC Nightly News. I'm Tom Yamas. A new chapter begins NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas evenings on NBC.

[Dan Patrick]

How's your car looking? Showing its age, faded paint, dents, dings. Don't worry, Mako is here to help. They're the experts in affordable paint jobs and light collision repairs, helping you keep your car looking its best without breaking the bag. Most cars on the road could use a little bit of love. And keep in mind with Americans keeping their vehicles longer, protecting your investment has never been more important. At Mako, they make it really easy. You come in free estimate and the expert technicians will handle the rest. With Mako's national reach and community focus, you're not just getting top notch service. You're actually getting a partner you can trust. Don't let those little imperfections add up. You want to keep your car on the road. You want to give it a little bit of love and you can do so with the great folks at Mako. Visit your local Mako today and see how they can refresh your ride. Go in, get the free estimate and the expert technicians will take care of everything after them. Oh, better get Mako. I mentioned this to start the show that John Buchegras, who was a. I was a teammate of at the mothership calling for Don Cherry and Barry Melrose to be elected to the Hockey hall of Fame. When we found out that Barry was diagnosed with Parkinson's, I said that on the show that let's wave. Whatever you need to wave. You know, put him in while he could still be able to go and enjoy the moment with his family. Have a speech there. I didn't realize Don Cherry was not in the hockey hall of Fame and he was hockey, certainly hockey night in Canada. But Johnny Butcher Grass, my hockey guy, joining us now. Butch, good to talk to you. Thank you for saying what you said. Obviously it has more weight when you say it in the hockey community. But what, what would be the hold up to put both of these men in the Hockey hall of Fame?

[Vincent Goodwill]

Well, just adding a sentence to the criteria, Dan. Right now, the criteria, there's a category for sports writers and for play by play guys, and that's it. And that was my point. You can Change this with 11 words or less. Play by play or analyst, whatever word you want to use. And obviously Don Cherry and Barry Melrose for 30 years were the biggest names in their countries in terms of broadcasters. You know, Don Cherry was certainly John Madden. He was in that kind of level. And Barry, I get emails all the time. I grew up with the game in America with Barry Melrose. And both of them went from junior hockey to professional hockey to coaching, to broadcasting, literally gave their life to the game and to the sport. And it seems just an easy sentence to get people like that or even great hosts like a Ron McLean from Hockey Night in Canada and all the ones they have up there. And eventually as. As the careers of some of these American analysts and broadcasters, you know, Eddie Olchuck and. And Ray Ferraro, there's no. There's no place for them. And it seems like an easy ad.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I just think contributions to the game, other sports have that. Pro football has contributions to the game and, and maybe you could put it under that umbrella. But I agree. How is Barry doing?

[Vincent Goodwill]

You know, you don't get better from Parkinson's, Dan. You know, thankfully, some people are cured of cancer, but you don't get cured of ALS or Parkinson's or dementia. So he's living in Oxford, Ohio. That's where he met his wife, Cindy, when he turned pro and played for the Cincinnat Maddie Stingers. She was a cheerleader on the team. She grew up in Oxford, rural Oxford, where Miami University is located. And they decided to move there from Florida to there where they had been living to get some support. Her family is still there. It's difficult, but Barry's watching the games. I texted Cindy Melrose yesterday and said, get. Can you get me a Berry prediction for the. For the finals? And of course, in true Barry fashion, every year it was somebody in six. He never said five, never said seven. So Barry's got the Oilers in six.

[Dan Patrick]

Dan, what do you have?

[Vincent Goodwill]

I have the Oilers in seven. Thinking. I'm sure they're thinking, we fell to this team 3:0 last year and almost won four games in a row. We're better this year. We have home ice this year. We're going to get off to a better start this year. We're going to treat one game, one tonight like game seven because you want to play ahead. You don't want to be down 01 to Pedro Martinez if you have a chance. You want to be up 1 0. And they're proud. They're the underdog by a smidge, but they have the greatest player of their generation. They have another great hall of Famer to be in Leon. Dry title. They have a little more depth. The Zach Hyman injury hurts. But overall they're so good on home ice. They have the best player. And as we know, Dan, when, when their, their backs are kind of up against a cliff, up against an ocean. And an army never fights harder than when their backs up against a cliff or an ocean. This team is going to get in the cap hell fast. They have no young players coming. It's almost a do or die year. Dry saddle gets a $5 million raise. Bouchard gets a $5 million raise next year. McDavid's going to need about an 8 million DOL next year. He's a UFA. This will be the summer of his extension. So they sense that, I think. And that's why even though Florida is the best complete team and they're maybe they're constructed as the perfect team and maybe they're going to win. But I just don't think from a. They don't, don't quite have that desperation that, that Edmonton has. You can't manufacture that.

[Dan Patrick]

But also you're carrying the country too. I mean, it's a long, long time and I don't think we can overstate the pressure that goes with caring. Not everybody's rooting for Edmonton, I'm sure, as you know, in other provinces, but right. You, you want Canada to bring home the cup.

[Vincent Goodwill]

The last time they won it, Barry Melrose was the other coach to bring it Back to Barry, 1993. So you're right, that's a good point. It's been 32 years. And you're right, it's not quite Toronto or Montreal doing it because obviously the big metropolitan areas that they're from and you maybe feel it more like the Cubs, Red Sox ending their droughts. But still, I think Canada would come together. McDavid score the overtime winner in the Four Nations. Otherwise it would have been an amazing year for USA Hockey. World Junior just won the world championship for the first time really. So that was a big moment for McDavid to win that. That was his first best on best. So he, he, he hasn't won a trophy, a team trophy before that. So he, since he was like 16, the guy, you know, it's just going back to junior for the Erie Otters. So it's time for him to win. You look at Every great iconic NHL player. Dan. I looked at the top 20 scores last night. Only three don't have a cup. You know, Marcel Dion, great player. These Guys are all great players, but not quite that iconic player. Joe Thornton, Adam Oates, all the others, they got their cup. It doesn't. It's not. There's no Ernie Banks in the NHL, you know, there's no Dan Marino. They get it. But he's 28, about to turn 29, and it's only going to get harder, like I said in Edmonton. So there is a bit of a fun sports story, desperation to it for me.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, that's. I was going to bring that up, that in the NBA and other sports, certainly quarterbacks. When are you going to win your title? You get to a certain point, like Luka Doncic, he's there.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Joker was there, he won a title. Giannis was there, he won a title. Embiid got an mvp. He's not going to win a title. Jason Tatum won a title. Once you win the title, then we move on to the next guy. It's like, right. Colin Montgomery, you know, the best player to never win a major.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

You know, we keep waiting for these guys. And then I wondered with, you know, Everybody says Connor McDavid's best player in the world. Well, the best players in the world win championships.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Exactly. And he might go down as the greatest talent ever. And so that, again, it just doesn't happen in this Sport. There were six teams forever, then there were 12, then there were 16. So people got around. They. They got their championship. But for him to be the greatest player in his sport, the most talented, that would be something. So it's something to keep an eye on.

[Dan Patrick]

John Butcher Grass, ESPN hockey, play by play and host sports center anchor. You've been there since what, 96?

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yeah, October 28th, 1996. We did one sports center together. I know you don't remember it, but I do. It was a six o' clock sports center. I was probably nervous doing three sports centers in my life. My first, which was. Was Stuart Scott, Granny Night, 1997. I'll never forget it. So my love of music is kind of cool. It fall. It fell on that date and I did a six o' clock with you and I can't even think of the third time. I was nervous, but that was a big deal to me.

[Dan Patrick]

I told this story. You were there playing basketball with us.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

When we had these sports center anchors, ESPN news anchors, and we're all playing in a place called Canton, Connecticut, the ymca and I. These guys were trying to get me to go out forever and play. And I said, nope, nope, I didn't. You know, if you let Me run up and down and sweat a little bit. I don't want somebody picking me up full court. So what happens?

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yep.

[Dan Patrick]

Stuart Scott picks me up full court to start the game. And it didn't go well after that because then it got worse. It did. It got really.

[Vincent Goodwill]

We cleared. I remember this like it was yesterday. I'm like 31 years old. I just got there. We. We played our pickup. I had Steve Berthume. I was smart.

[Dan Patrick]

I. I knew who to guard.

[Vincent Goodwill]

I'm gonna check perfume. Say hello to my little friend. And so we clear the court, and then you and Stuart proceed to play one on one. It is the most violent one on one situation I've ever seen on a basketball court.

[Dan Patrick]

It was.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Stuart wanted it more than you, Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

He did.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Obviously.

[Dan Patrick]

He was bodying me forearm. And then I finally. It was. I talked to Jason Jackson about this. Occasionally he laughs because he said, people don't believe me when I tell that story. And I said to Stuart, I looked him right in the eye and I said, where do you want me to bleep and score on you? I'm dribbling with my left hand. And I was so. I like, God, this is the last thing I wanted to do exactly. Be competitive with all of the other co anchors there and turn an ankle.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Then you can't golf. That was my reason why I retired. I don't want to turn an ankle, not be able to golf.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, Stuart undercut me.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

And I. I ended up going to the emergency room for a chip. Vertebrae. I still had to do sportscenter that night.

[Robert Ori]

Yes.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Always.

[Dan Patrick]

And. And booyah. Never apologized. Never, never. It was a flagrant, too.

[Vincent Goodwill]

I can't believe how competitive we were, man. That's like a different person. I'm just not that person anymore.

[Dan Patrick]

It's. It was sad. It was sad.

[Robert Ori]

It was.

[Dan Patrick]

I was like, what am I doing? I'm better than this.

[Vincent Goodwill]

What are we doing?

[Dan Patrick]

I'm going against Chuck Garfine. I mean, what am I doing? I'm better than this, right? I'm better than this.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Take Dave Revson to his left.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm gonna lock up. Revson. I am Rever. Great to talk to you, John. I hope you're doing well. Hope we have a great series.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Shout out. Marengo, my buddy. Goody watching high school basketball teammate. Love, Stan Patrick.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, bud.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us. Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need to trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro. Plus we'll help you pay off your old phone. Up to 800 bucks and you still.

[Dan Patrick]

Get to keep it.

[Vincent Goodwill]

There's always a trade in. Not right now. @ T Mobile. I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma. That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender. I'm good. Seriously. Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car. It's our best iPhone offer ever.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Switch to T Mobile.

[Dan Patrick]

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[Robert Ori]

Apple intelligence on us, no trade in needed.

[Vincent Goodwill]

We'll even pay off your Phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 9.99 and qualifying ported for well qualified plus tax and $10 connection charge. Payout via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits and balance due if you pay off early or cancel.

[Dan Patrick]

CT mobile.com the name of this product is the Active cash credit card from Wells Fargo. That's a lot of name, but it's also a lot of card. It earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Whether it's buying tickets to the game with your mom or grabbing coffee with your dog. Purchases big and small earn unlimited 2% cash rewards. No limits, no categories to track. Just straightforward rewards that keep adding up. So you might stumble a bit while saying it, but paying with it will make you stumble upon so much more. Shopping, dining, cooking, gardening. You get the idea. Let's say it together. The Active cash credit card from Wells Fargo earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. You know what? It does have a ring to it. No, seriously, try saying it out loud. The active cash credit card from Wells Fargo. Oh, that sounds nice. Learn more@wells fargo.com ActiveCash terms apply.

[Vincent Goodwill]

NBC Nightly News Legacy isn't handed down.

[Dan Patrick]

Or NBC News.

[Robert Ori]

I'm Tom Brokaw.

[Dan Patrick]

We hope to see you back here. I'm Lester Holt.

[Vincent Goodwill]

It's carried forward.

[Robert Ori]

Tom Yamas is there for us.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Firefighters are still working around the clock. As the world changes, we look for what endures. We are coming on the air with breaking news. Right now, we look For a constant and from one era to the next, trust is the anchor for NBC Nightly News. I'm Tom Yamas. A new chapter begins NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Evenings on NBC.

[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

Let's bring back Robert Ori. Let's see if that connection's a little bit better. All right, your reaction when you heard that the Knicks had fired Tom Thibodeau, I was shocked.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Because if you look at what Tom Thibodeau has done for that team Getting them back to the Eastern Conference finals, having a lot of things that go on with that team and, and for them to fire him in such a man up to get into these conference. I was just shocked because if you really think about it, and if you look at the roster of the Knicks, they overachieved. To me, you know, they, they were overachievers. They got a lot of guys that are role players playing very well in Thibodeau's system. So I think that's one of the things you have to look at. And sometimes people get confused. So we just beat the NBA champions. Yeah, you beat them, but you still got other teams that can play. And the paces, let's be honest, they coach very well and they're playing better than anybody. So I think they should have ran it back. But it's going to be hard to find someone to come in and step in his shoes, though.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you have to like your head coach?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I've never liked any of my head coach.

[Dan Patrick]

No?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No. Actually, you know, it's so weird that a lot of people think you have to like your head coaches. I said, as long as the coach is doing a good job, I don't think you have to like him. But I think that has to have some type of respect there. And if they're playing the coach doesn't respect the players, I don't think the players are going to respect the coach. And I think with this day and age, the way players and coaches communicate, you know, you should step up and, and have that opportunity to. Yo, Coach, I don't, you know, this is how I feel about certain situations. And, and I don't know anything about any of those players that they had. I don't know if anybody has the, you know, the man. I won't say the balls to step in and say, yo, Tiff, you know, we're playing too many minutes of this and if tables are listening. But I think most of the time I make all that fall on, on the assistant coaches because assistant coaches are the ones that need to step in and grab the head coach by the ear and make them listen to them, because the assistant closer to the players than the coaches to the players.

[Dan Patrick]

Did you like Phil Jackson?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I love Phil Jackson. I love. I actually loved all my coaches. I love Rudy first, then Pop, and Phil was second.

[Dan Patrick]

But Pop likes to yell at. Yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So here's a funny story about. Pop never yelled at me. He yelled at me once and everybody looked at him. He was like, oh, I'm not supposed to Yell at Rob. Okay, I forgot.

[Dan Patrick]

Why is he not allowed to yell at you?

[Ryan Seacrest]

For some odd reason, there was a rumor going around that you cannot yell at me. If you yell at me, you lose me. Which is not tr. Because you got to think about. My high school coach was a yellow wimp. Sanderson was definitely yelling. And so I'm like, I don't mind yelling. I might tune you out, but you can yell at me.

[Dan Patrick]

You never wanted to fight a coach, though?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No. You know, that's my. That's my former college teammate, Spree. Well, I never did anything, you know. You know, here's the thing about, you know, in coaches, I think I've always been.

[Dan Patrick]

You and Spree ever get into it?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, man. You know, I'm the greatest guy ever, man. Everybody loves me. Man up. The teammate. I said, think about this. I sacrificed more than any player in the world for his team to win. You know, even in college, I let Spree and James do their thing. You know, I got to. You know, I got to the Rockets. I let Dream do his thing and get to Lakers, Kobe, Shaq, do your thing. I sacrifice for you guys. Because at the end of the day, it's about winning. It's about winning.

[Dan Patrick]

How many plays were run specifically for you in your career?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I only had plays run for me when I was with the Rockets. Once I got to. I. You know, I think it was one time when I was in Laker uniform, I had plays ran from. That was when I set a record for most threes made consecutively in the game, and I was hot. So he ran some plays for me. Then I was ran by. I think Dale Harris was the coach. DL Maybe. Yeah. That's the only time. And last time, you know, Pop never ran plays for me. Even when I was hot in 2005 in that finals, he didn't run plays for me. Then I'm like, hey, because I'm the. You know, I'm the ultimate sacrifice, man. You know, the most important thing is winning. And I never cared about my stats. It's about getting that dub.

[Dan Patrick]

How upset was Hakeem when David Robinson won the league mvp?

[Ryan Seacrest]

He was beyond upset. And it's weird because Dream is not a big talker. And when he said, that's my trophy back then, and he came out and pulled out some moves on David Robinson that I'd never seen before. It was amazing.

[Dan Patrick]

That dream shake.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You think about the footwork and his ability to get guys to be in a popcorn machine and get them off their feet. He was just Fantastic, man. One of the greatest players I ever played with.

[Dan Patrick]

Didn't he smack Vernon Maxwell? Did he smack Vernon?

[Ryan Seacrest]

You know, that happened a year before I got.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, okay.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You know, I'm like, I'm that calm that comes in and calms everybody down so there's no smacking of people.

[Dan Patrick]

Then would Kobe be able to play? And obviously with the talent, but you know, he was kind of a bully. Like you had like Michael Jordan, like, you got to keep up with me. Would that work in today's NBA with these players?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I think it would. Because you think about it, if you come to a team and this is how it's done, you kind of fall into that mold and the culture. You know, you might have a couple guys that might not fall in line, but if you winning, you know, that's the bottom line, you know. And if you think about, you look at all the cultures that you have that are created on each team. You think about the OKC culture, how they're like, oh, we're going to have each other's back regardless. You think about the Indiana's coach, we're going to play team. Nobody's bigger than the ab. And you think about the culture in New York also. This is. It's only six guys are going to play, and that's it. I think you become. You adapt to it. And I think a lot of guys, when you come in the organization that let you be a little bit more free, that's when you're not able to adapt because this is all, you know, you have blinders on and say, oh, this is. We didn't do this here, we didn't do this there. So I think that'd be fine. Especially when you. Kobe, you know, he's a leader. He's going to make you, you know, follow, follow toe. So I think he'll be fine.

[Dan Patrick]

You think he could have, could have gotten 100 points in a game?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, no, I think 81 was just stretching out 100 points because it get to a point where, you know, you got to miss some shots and guys get jealous. Like, yo, man, I know you scoring them, but let me get some love too. But I, I don't. I don't think he would have been if it went into overtime. He probably could have.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, but you don't want to interrupt his flow. If you, if he's got like 70 something, you don't go, hey, come on, how about I get a shot or something?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, but after a while, you think if I'm the coach, that's the historical thing that's about to happen. Right. It ain't happening on my watch. We're gonna triple team him as soon as he. You're gonna have some guy face guard him. Don't let him catch. So you, you know, think nobody ever wants to have a historical mark like that, selling them. Because you can be like, in a trivia question, who was the head coach?

[Vincent Goodwill]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Allowed Kobe Bryant to have 100 points. So, yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Robert Ori, Lakers analyst for Spectrum Sportsnet seven time NBA champ. All right. What would you do if you're the Lakers in the off season? What's the one thing that has to happen?

[Ryan Seacrest]

They, of course, they gotta get some size. I think that's the biggest key. They gotta get some size, and then they gotta get, you know, some people behind that bench to grab JJ and say, yo, this ain't working. And I think a lot of times we look at the head coach and we blame him for some things, and we blame the players for things. But I blame. I always blame the assistant coaches, because assistant coaches need to have the coach's ear, and they see things that the head coach don't see sometimes, and, like, yo, this ain't working. We need to do this and that. And I think that's the main key. You know, I love the coaching staff that they have, but is JJ Willing to listen to his staff and trust his staff? Because sometimes when you come in as a new coach, you say, oh, I got to do it my way. I got to do it this way. Because I'm the head coach. I need to do this. And I think sometimes it takes a village, you know, instead of, you know, a guy saying, oh, I need to do this, because my. My. My head is on the line.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, but how should Luca take that? Hey, you're fat. You're overweight. Like, and people now say this openly as opposed to maybe somebody said it to him privately, and. And I don't know him, but I don't know. I don't know what would motivate him, because it feels like people are embarrassing him by saying this.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. And it's so weird that people talk about his weight, but yet he's still giving people 30 points. I don't. I tell people I don't care about his weight. You need to get him in the gym and teach him how to play defense. You know, that's the thing, because you can give someone 40 points, but if you're giving up 35 on the other end, those 40 points don't mean anything.

[Dan Patrick]

Wait, you think that you could make Luka a good defensive player.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes, you can. You know, because it's about wanting to. You know, he's never had to because he's always had people behind him the erase his mistakes. You think about now, there was no ad, no center. Nobody erases mistakes in la. He getting blown by, you know, they getting layups.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You know, if you, if you watch stretches of games where Lukas just stayed in front because he's a big body, the defenders, I mean offensive players are bouncing off him. Just stay in front. And I think that is the key. And I think also he needs to want to play defense because so many times he saves his energy for the offensive end. I tell people all the time, if you can move your feet and get past and blow by people, that means you have some fast twitch muscles. You can move pretty fast, so there's no reason you cannot play better defense on the other. It's just, you just gotta want to. And I don't think, I think a lot of times he doesn't want to. He'd rather just point.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. That means that you think Karl Anthony Towns could be an adequate defender.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I think with Carl, you know, people always talk about Lucas in shape. You know, if you look at Carl, I think he could get in better shape. You know, he's very top heavy and I think he could get in better shape. And he can, you know, even though he has some big dogs, I think he wears like what size 21 shoe. But I think he can move his feet because if you watch him offensive, he can move fast. You just got to want to. And car. Anthony's problem is. His problem is he does a lot of silly fouls.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And he had. And he, you know, when he sets the screen, he's. He puts his hip out and things like that. He just has to learn how to, you know, curtail those files and, and be more streamlined with his movements and just be smarter. So I think he'd be fine defensively.

[Dan Patrick]

OKC's style.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Like they, they lead with defense.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you believe the defense still wins championships in the NBA?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Of course. And the thing, why if OKC wins, this is going to negate all those people who go out and be like, oh, threes are the way to win. That's not Shay Gilder's game. He will do a three every nine, but it's about getting buckets. And Shay Gilgis knows how to get buckets. That's either from the mid range or from the free throw line. But on the flip side, you think about what Hartenstein and Caruso, and to me, one of the best defensive players in the game, Lou Dork, are doing for that team is amazing.

[Vincent Goodwill]

And you.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And if you go back at the. The history of the NBA, even you go back to the Splash brothers and the way they shot threes, they were top five defensively. And so people sometimes forget, like, oh, they get mesmerized by the office. But these teams are also good defensively and they can lock you down. You know, the Jalen Williams, they're very good. And if you look at this team, there's usually somebody on the team that's, you know, bad defensively. There's no one on OKC is bad defensively.

[Dan Patrick]

What are the posters behind you over your right shoulder?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Those are posters of. I had a guy that. He did a painting of every championship I had. And what it is, is it's a moment from each game. I kind of. I. So I kind of. It's kind of homage to me.

[Dan Patrick]

All right. I thought it was other players you played.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Those are.

[Dan Patrick]

Those are all you. Okay. Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's two Rockets, three Lakers, and two spurs. And it's like, it's a three point shot and each one has a part of. I can walk over and let you see if you like. But so if.

[Dan Patrick]

If you can. I know you got time constraints here, so. All right, you're gonna.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. So it's kind of. I got a guy named Opie Otis, dad, that I've been known for, like, since I got in the NBA. So this is like, okay, Knicks Finals, Orlando's Finals, Pacers Finals, of course, Sixers, New Jersey Pistons, and in Cleveland. And each one has, like, the most famous shot I made against Lakers. He does this thing called ghosting where you can put like a little ghosting thing in it. So it's just me.

[Dan Patrick]

Hey, you earned it. I like that you lost track of one of the matchups there. You've won so many championships. Like, oh, New Jersey. Yeah, that was New Jersey.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. You always forget about the people you sweep. Like, you know that team that had Penny and Shaq. I forget the name of that team.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow. Great to talk to you again, as always, Robert.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Great to talk to you too, man. I appreciate you, man.

[Dan Patrick]

That's Robert Oring.

[Vincent Goodwill]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Vincent Goodwill]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

Welcome to the now it pays to Discover.

[Vincent Goodwill]

Learn [e-mail] Credit Card Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report, this is an iHeart podcast.